Julio Jones comes down with a magnificent 70-yard touchdown reception against the Carolina Panthers to go up 13-10 on the Panthers.
Julio Jones completed one of the best vertical touchdown receptions of 2015, a 70-yard catch off of play-action from quarterback Matt Ryan to give the Atlanta Falcons a 14-10 lead after the PAT on the undefeated Carolina Panthers.
The Falcons were able to avoid their frequent self-inflicted turnovers in the first three quarters against the Panthers. Fox Commentator and former nine-time Pro Bowl safety John Lynch kept emphasizing that Ryan should go vertical to Jones at least once in this game.
Jones, like he has been all season, has been Ryan’s favorite target, doing much of the yeoman’s work for the Falcons in the receiving game. Lynch argued that Jones was getting the best of Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman early in this game. Down 10-7, Ryan hurled a third down pass as far as he could from the Falcons’ own 30-yard line.
Jones had beat both Panthers in double coverage. As the defensive back for Carolina fell down, Jones out leapt Pro Bowl middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, pulling the reception in at the Carolina 17-yard line. Since Kuechly gave it all on trying to break up the pass/come down with the interception, Jones scampered into the end zone effortlessly.
In the early part of the fourth quarter, the Falcons very much have the Panthers on upset alert. Carolina has not lost a regular season game in over a year. Atlanta needs to beat Carolina to mathematically stay alive in the NFC Playoffs race. Since Atlanta and Carolina are bitter NFC South rivals, this is the type of game that the Panthers could end up being upset. Carolina needs either a win or a Arizona Cardinals loss to gain home field advantage in the NFC Playoffs.